Starting a Business?

How do you go beyond the basics of an e-commerce site? Here are
some features to consider adding to your online catalog:

Registration system. This is where your visitors sign up
to become "members" at your site. Make registration
simple and give tangible benefits for registering such as product
samples or discounts. Tie your registration system into your
e-commerce system so that once a person registers and logs into the
site, the system remembers them when they return, offering them
more personalized marketing messages.

Member profiles. Let members create their own profiles
where they specify their preferences or build one automatically
based on the items they purchase. Next time they shop, tie this
database into your e-commerce system to show their favorite
products first, or offer them a discount on a product they
purchased months ago. Once you have their profile, you can
recommend products such as shampoo and conditioner when you know
their hair type.

These are only a few interactive ways you can make the most of
your online catalog.

Creating a MAP will take no more than an hour of your time every month and will keep the lines of communication open, ensuring relationships with investors remain strong, and ultimately helping early-stage startups succeed.